Trenton Golf Course to close in December

After more than a decade operating under the name Trenton Street Golf Course, the complex will close in December.

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People play a game of golf Thursday afternoon at the Trenton Street Golf Course in West Monroe. The course will close on December 31 after its current operators declined to renew their lease.(Photo: EMERALD MCINTYRE/ THE NEWS-STAR)Buy Photo

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The 64-acre Trenton Street Golf Course and Driving Range in West Monroe opened in 2002.

The Trenton Street Golf Course will close on Dec. 31 after its current operators declined to renew their lease, causing West Monroe officials to tee up and find alternative uses.

The 64-acre course and driving range opened in 2002 after Matt Owens of Owens Properties leased the property from the city of West Monroe and reconstructed what was formerly Riverside Golf Course.

Mayor Dave Norris said Owens has informed the city he no longer wants to maintain the golf course, citing economic factors, and has declined to renew his lease for 2015.

"That puts us in a position to figure out what to do with that property," Norris said.

He has notified the West Monroe Board of Aldermen and asked them to offer suggestions.

He intends to keep the property available as some form of recreational use for local residents.

"We don't want to be hasty and do anything erratically, but I don't think we will run it as a golf course. They've been losing money for some time. It appears golf is trending down as an activity and I don't think it would be a viable option," Norris said. "It's just hard to justify the expense involved in running a golf course. It's difficult to maintain because a lot of specialized equipment is needed."

The golf course has seen a sharp decline in the number of patrons since 2008 when the economy took a downturn, Owens said.

"It costs the same amount for us to maintain it whether one person plays or 100 play," Owens said. "It costs a good bit to maintain 64 acres. A lot of golf courses just aren't making it. I've read in Forbes more than 200 close a year due to the decline of the middle class," Owens said.

Owens believes the city will utilize some of the property as a walking park.